San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-07-14

met after three years separation; they
embraced affcctiunately, ana then retired
into corner for private chat
II told Mrs. MAY bury knew Miss Lin
den at school; 50 she brought me with her
to-day in the hope That might lind ii to be
you, Mabel How Jolly Il Is to think we can
renew our old fricndShipl | am going 10
stay here about three weeks; so we can see
a good deal of each other. | shall want
companion, for Reginald and don't get on
very well together; he is so fussy and par
ticular DO you know him? tell him he Is
an old idget~
Miss Darcy laughed and ratified on, asking
questions and not waiting to have them an
swered, hardly letting Mabel get in a word.
She was a lively girl, light-hearted and
merry. Gifted by nature with no mean per-
sOnal attractions and by fortune with fair
portion of this worlds goods, she enjoyed
life, and showed that she did 50. Tall and
fair, with light wavy hair and gray eyes,
pale complexion, and a graceful figure, she
formed a very attractive parsonage; whilst
her large fortune--inherited from an uncle
who had been a coffee planter in the West
IndieS-made her the cynOSure OF all eyes
wherever she went All the flattery and
failed to arouse a trace of vanity withiL her,
and she remained through all a thorough
specimen Of EnglandS fair wOmanhOOd.
"a rival for my Mabrir' was Mrs. Lin
denis thought, as, while ClnveTsing with her
visitor, her eyes slraycd To the spot where
the two girls sat absorbed in their earnest
conversation.
"You will let your luCntcr come and see
us very often, | hope, Mrs. Linden" said
Mrs. Maybury, as she rose to take leave;
isabel and she must renew their former &C
quaintance, and | shall be 80 glad to see her.
Miss Understanding to Mabel-"will you
come and dine with us quietly tomorrow?
will send the carriage for you"
Mabel assented gladly; and, after more
handshakings, the visitors took their leave.
~ am glad you are in white; it suits you
so well am too pale to wear it, and lhave
been seized with an agonizng dread lest you
might wear a color to clash with with my
blue-green, for instance. How awful that
would have been p'-and Isabel Darcy
laughed merrily as she and Mabel met in the
drawing-roOm Of Maybury Court the next
evening.
They were the sole occupants of the luxur-
ious apartment with its soft carpet luxur-
ious touches, and rich gliding, its rare cabi-
nets and beautiful old china; and they har-
monized charmingly with their surroundings.
Isabel, in her trailing robe of pale blue satin,
pearls round her white throat and rounded
arms, looked like some princess of fairy
lore; while Mabel, in white silk, a wreath of
daisies in her golden hair, might have served
for model for GOethe's Margaret.
They might have clashed in more ways
than as to the color Of their gowns; but there
was no feeling of rivalry between them,
even though Guy Heathcote, the only other
guest besides Miss Linden, with laudable
magnanimity devoted himself during the
whole evening to Miss Darcy, and left the
Squire to Mabel. She however felt dull and
out of spirits, she hardly knew why, and
found Mr.. Maybury not half so pleasant and
entertaining q companion as the young vii
lage Doctor.
Mrs. Maybury asked Isabel to sing. The
request was echoed by Guy. She had
superb cOntraltO voice, and sang GuOnOd's
sweet "Serenade" to perfection. Doctor
HeathcOte was loud in his praise at its con-
clusion.
Miss Linden, will you favor uS?'
The request was put with Mrs. Maybury's
most formal manner; she was angry that
Reginald should have allowed himself to be
mOnOpOlized by any other than the heiress
whom she intended for his wife.
Mabel went TO the piano, and, striking
few chords gave a sweetly simple rendering
of Home, sweet home" There was silence
for minute at the close of the song, then
murmured Thank you" from Mrs. May
bury and Isabel, How lOvely!' from the
young Squire, and smOthered exclamation
from Guy whether of appreciation or not
Mabel could not tell. With another song
from each of the girls and one from Regi-
nald-he had fine tenor voice, and sang
well-the evening came to close.
Reginald, ring the bell, and order the
carriage for Miss Linden" said Mrs. May
bury, as Mabel said goodnight.
''Miss Linden" said Doctor HeathcOte,
entering the room, which he had left a few
minutes before lit is q fine night, and | am
going to walk home. May | have the pleas
ure of escOrting you to the cOttage-that is
TO say, if you are not afraid of the night-air?'
Mabel declared her willingness to walk;
and so it was arranged, to the intense salts
faction of at least three of the party.
miss Linden, you must take my arm-the
road is very rough and uneven just here,'
said Doctor HeathcOte, as his companion
stumbled; and, suiting the action to the
word, he quietly took the little hand and
laid it on his cOat-sleeve.
miss Darcy sings WE'LL" Doctor Heath
cote remarked presently, abruptly breaking
the silence.
YES; she always had lovely voice."
Mabel replied quietly.
But she does not sing so well as you; her
voice pleases the ear, yours got straight to
the heart"
Mabel made no answer to this. She trem-
bled with delight at such praise from him!
"Will you sing Home, sweet home TO NE
again, Mabel%'
The tone of voice in which he put the
question and the utteranCe of her Christian
name made the girl raise her blue eyes to his
face in some establishment; but she only
said simply
Eyes. Why do you like it so muchp'
Guy HeathcOte looked down at the sweet
face raised to his in the starlight, with
strange longing at his heart, then turned
away from her and answered.
at is favorite Of mine; one who was
very dear to me used to sing it."
'ls she dead?'
Mabel spoke without thinking; she was
startled by the feeling of misery those few
words Of Doctor HeathcOte's had reused in
her.
YES; she died two years agO-she was
my step-mOther. My father married her